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Taxpayer-funded lobbying is government to government lobbying. Counties, cities, school districts, public facilities, and associations of public employees frequently use public funds to influence legislation and appropriations at the state and federal levels.

This practice is controversial because public funds are spent to lobby for an agenda not subject to direct approval by voters, and outcomes may be contrary taxpayers benefit.

Municipal lobbying

230 municipalities belong to the West Virginia Municipal League.[1] The League lobbies the state legislature on behalf of these municipalities and keeps member municipalities updated on the status of relevant legislation.[2]

Lobbying in-state and federal lobbying

Some local governments hire both lobbyists for in-state lobbying and for federal lobbying. One city, Greensboro, decided in 2010 to top its contract with its in-state lobbyist and instead focus on federal lobbying.[3]

Criticism

One criticism of government sector lobbying is that it is unecessary, as state representatives exist to promote the interests of their respective local governments and constituents. Senator Robert C. Byrd once famously killed a multimillion-dollar federal building project for his home-state West Virginia University because the public school had hired a lobbyist to help in acquiring the project. "Byrd's message: As senator, it's his job to win federal dollars for West Virginia."[4]